Complaints of a pit bull and her puppies being kept in “deplorable” conditions led to the arrest of a Boynton Beach man Sunday.

City police arrested Deon Lamar Blue, 35, on charges of cruelty to animals and unlawful confinement of animals. He was released from the Palm Beach County Jail Sunday night after posting $3,000 bail.
According to a probable-cause affidavit made public Monday, the investigation began in May when officers received an anonymous complaint of an emaciated dog with puppies. The officers were called to an address in the 2600 block of Northeast Fourth Court, north of Gateway Boulevard and west of U.S. Highway 1.

The mother of the puppies. (Courtesy Boynton Beach Police Department)

They found four puppies approximately four to five weeks old that were confined in a filthy, soiled crate, the affidavit said. As officers attempted to locate the home’s owner, the puppies’ mother wandered onto the property from a block away. The dog was emaciated, with bones protruding from its hip, rib and spine, the affidavit said.

The dogs were turned over to officers from Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control. Police investigators learned the house was foreclosed on in January 2015. After multiple attempts, officers reached Blue by telephone.

He allegedly admitted that he had no ownership or tenant rights to the property. He also admitted to ownership of the dog and her puppies, police said. Blue reportedly has previously been cited for similar violations and has been made aware of laws pertaining to housing and breeding dogs.

The puppies found in the cage at Leon Blue’s home. (Courtesy Boynton Beach police)